#Shell 4.2

[got-into-worm-by-mistake]

Shell 4.2 Live Reactions

(This is me, writing reactions as I read, because why the fuck not. They're not complete, mature thoughts taken after I sit back and evaluate what I've read. Consider them as such)

“We’re updating your wardrobe,” Lisa decided, after we’d left the boys behind. “What’s wrong with my wardrobe?” I asked, a bit defensively. “Nothing, really.  It’s just very… you.  Which is the problem.” “You’re not making me feel better, here.”

Rude. :P

“Your personality is reflected in your fashion choices.  Muted colors.  Brown, gray, black, white.  If you are wearing something with color to it, you’re wearing it under a sweatshirt, sweater or jacket.  Never anything that would stand out.  Never showing much skin.  While most people our age are picking clothes with the intention of defining an identity for themselves, fitting into a clique, you’re focused on staying out of sight and not attracting attention.  You’re being too cautious, overthinking things you don’t need to, always making the call to play it safe.”

Not quite clear on how this is bad.

“More to the point, I’m seeing you alternate between the same two pairs of jeans every day, when you got a paycheck for two grand five days ago.  If I don’t make you buy clothes, I don’t think you’re going to.”

Probably fair.

“Not that one,” she waved at the dress, a plaid number, predominantly red and white.  Annoyed, I shut the curtain.

What, Lisa's power tells her if a Taylor will be able to pull off a given dress?

I finished doing up the buttons of the dress and opened the curtain, “Ever think I didn’t want you prying?” She undid the top button. “What you want and what you need are two different things. 

A very fair point. Just not sure I'd always trust Tattletale to be able to pick out 'need' as well as she thinks.

“I could help make the suckish parts suck less,” she offered. I swear my blood turned cold in my veins.  I could just see her showing up at school, taunting Emma.  I think the prospect of facing down Glory Girl again would spook me less.  

Why? Emma, WHY?! Take the fucking help. I get that you've been beaten down so hard you don't see a way out, but seriously, fucking take the help.

Goddamn Teenagers.

“You need to get used to showing some cleavage.  Like I said, be bold in your fashion choices.” “I’d be fine with showing some cleavage if I had anything to show,” I pointed out.

I feel like I shouldn't be laughing at this line.

“You’re taller than a thirteen year old boy, don’t be silly.  Besides, whatever you look like, whatever your body type, there’s bound to be someone out there who thinks you’re the hottest fucking person they’ve ever seen.” “Fantastic,” I mumbled, “There’s a sketchy pedophile out there with my name on him.”

Taylor, you're a tall girl with very nice hair. Tall. Just accept that you're bi and you'd have a whole new world open up.

Lisa laughed, “Go, try something else on.  But throw the jeans over the top.  I’m buying them for you, and if you never wear them, I’ll have to be content with you feeling guilty about it.”

Vile manipulations of a true villain! :P :rofl:

“Do me a favor and don’t go telling the gang how badly I let things slip, as far as Panacea being one of the hostages.  If they ask outright, you can say, I won’t ask you to lie.  But if they don’t ask, maybe don’t bring it up?”

I can't help but feel like She's got a second motive here, but I can't for the life of me guess what it would be.

“Something less intense,” I decided, “I’m kind of feeling like I jumped into the deep end of the pool without entirely knowing how to swim.  I’d prefer to get to know my powers better in the field, figure out how to deal with situations, before I’m up against people like Lung and Glory Girl, who are literally capable of tearing me limb from limb.”

She really has skipped the Tutorial, hasn't she?

“I know it’s kind of cliche, but when people with powers get together, isn’t it kind of standard to share origin stories?”

I just - I dunno, I feel like I have some trouble believing that Taylor, in-universe, wouldn't know not to ask this?

This feels more like a line that has to happen for the reader to get the info, rather than a line someone in-story would actually be saying here?

[strawberryglitterpen]

genshin impact - shells 🫧🪸

[madamepestilence]

The Chemical Structure of Redstone

So I was curious about what the chemical structure of Redstone looks like, and Minecraft Education Edition, albeit unintentionally, gives us a canon look into what Redstone is made of:

In Minecraft Education Edition, putting a Redstone Block into a Material Reducer shows that it's composed of 31 Carbon, 31 Uranium, and 38 Unobtanium, which we can assume to be measured in grams

Dividing the Redstone Block into Redstone Dust, each Redstone Dust is then composed of approximately 3.4 Carbon, 3.4 Uranium, and 4.2 Unobtanium

Again assuming that's measured in grams, that's 0.17 cm³ of Uranium, 1.496 cm³ of Carbon, and ???³ of Unobtanium per Redstone Dust

So what does this tell us about the chemical structure of Redstone? Basing this on Redstone Dust's composition, we can estimate that each Redstone molecule is composed of 3 Carbon atoms, 3 Uranium atoms, 4 Unobtanium atoms, a little under half of the time it binds to an extra Uranium and/or Carbon, and 20% of the time it binds to an extra Unobtanium

This also has some horrifying implications for how Redstone works:

Redstone would be extremely volatile as the radioactive decay from Unobtanium and Uranium would occasionally release Helium ions through alpha radiation, sometimes breaking apart Carbon into two Beryllium atoms (as it absorbs the extra proton and neutron from the Uranium) or merging into Oxygen

So Redstone should, in theory, be extremely flammable and potentially explosive, which implies that cave static, or the player mining Redstone with an Iron Pickaxe, could lead to a spark that causes an explosive cave-in

As Unobtanium is just a placeholder for unobtainable elements (hence the name), I'm going to estimate Unobtanium in this case as Unbinilium, the placeholder name for element 120

Why?

I'm estimating the Unobtanium as Redstone as being larger than the largest man-made element, Oganesson, which holds an impressive 118 protons

Each valence electron shell, from innermost to outermost, can bind with 2, 8, 18, 32, 32, 18, and 8 shells respectively, so I'd like Unobtanium to be an element we haven't discovered yet, and consequently I'd like to jump up to the next shell

While I could estimate with element 119's placeholder, Ununennium, it would have one electron in the next shell, so Unbinilium allows for easier chemical binding

So what does this molecule look like then? Well, horrifyingly...

It looks like this. As Redstone forms in crystal lattices, and only two Carbon atoms are free to bind, I can absolutely see why it's so brittle that it breaks into powder.

This makes the structure of Redstone:

C3U3Uno4 (55% of molecules) C4U3Uno4 (13% of molecules) C3U4Uno4 (13% of molecules) C4U4Uno4 (7% of molecules) C3U3Uno5 (5% of molecules) C4U3Uno5 (3% of molecules) C3U4Uno5 (3% of molecules) C4U4Uno5 (1% of molecules)

An extremely radioactive, flammable, and explosive compound.

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Believe in the Pink Fairy Armadillo

The pink fairy armadillo, also known as the pichiciego (Chlamyphorus truncatus) is a species of armadillo found only in central Argentina. They reside primarily in sandy flats, scrublands, and grasslands. They are extremely sensitive to environmental changes, and require certain species of shrub as well as copious amounts of compact sand for a suitable habitat.

Pichicegos spend the majority of their time underground, only emerging at night to forage. They feed mainly on ants, and supplement their diet with other insects, especially beetles, larvae worms, as well as various plants and roots. C. truncatus is also sometimes referred to as the 'sand swimmer' due to its ability to burrow quickly through sandy soil.

The pink fairy armadillo is named for its distinctive pink 'shell', composed of 24 leathery segments that are attached to the back via a thin membrane. The rest of the body is covered in fine white hair. These two features help individuals maintain a constant internal temperature despite the extremely hot days and frigid nights of the Argentinian desert. In addition to its unique looks, the pichicego is also notable for being the smallest known armadillo species. Adults can be anywhere from 90–115 mm (3.5–4.5 in) long, and typically weigh about 120 g (4.2 oz).

Very little is known about the mating and reproductive habits of pink fairy armadillos. Based on what is known about similar armadillo species, it is likely that females only have a small litter of 1-3 pups, and they will nurse them for some period of time. However, outside of mating, adults are known to be highly solitary-- though not aggressively territorial.

Conservation status: The pink fairy armadillo is currently listed as Data Deficient by the IUCN, as very little is known about this creature's population size or spread. However, in 2006 it was listed as Near Threatened, and due to its sensitivity to changes in habitat quality or structure it is likely threatened by climate change, habitat destruction, and agricultural activities.

Photos

Mariella Superina

Ivan Gutierrez Lemaitre

Mariella Superina

[pocket-gems]

Ammonites

After ages, @devidaydreamer and I felt inspired enough to finish an open species called Ammonites! Here's all of their info ^^

These types of Gems are low to medium ranking Gems. They are serve as ornamental guards for high-ranking Gems and for delivering Pearls.

1- Appearance:

Ammonites are very tall Gems with a muscular build. They have small eyes with visible pupils and long eyelashes, a thin slopped nose and big full lips. Their face has notable cheeks and they have rainbow stylized hair that resemble shell-like shapes and freckles that match the colors on their hair. Sometimes they wear make-up such as eye shadow and lipstick.

They have a big strong chest, thick arms and long thick waist. The upper part of their body overall is bigger in comparison to their long thin legs and feet.

Their gemstone is shaped like a shell and its multi colored. While the amount of colors can vary, it always matches with their hair's.

1.1- Customization:

Similarly to Pearls, Ammonites don't have a set uniform or palette.

Instead, their colors, hairstyle, outfit and gemstone position are customizable to resemble the Gem they created to serve for. Fancier Ammonites appear to have transparent clothing.

Their standard Homeworld uniform consists of a white high collar with a white bog tie, a light blue jacket with big shoulder pads and colonial white accents with short white sleeves on top of a medium purple shirt, light blue pants, high medium purple boots with colonial white diamond-shaped accents on the knees and white diamond flats with white bow-like garments.

1.2- Undercooked Ammonites:

Undercooked Ammonites are the result of a formation of an Ammonite being rushed.

While Undercooked Ammonites share similar traits with Ammonites, they have notable differences. They are smaller and have a bigger head, smaller chest, thinner arms, shorter legs and seem to have less colors and details.

2- Personality:

Ammonites are very protective, loyal Gems who wish to protect others at all cost, even if they end up sacrificing themselves. Despite their somewhat masculine appearance, they are feminine in nature. They are submissive and obedient, most of the time awaiting for orders from their owner and wish to provide simple luxuries.

While they can be loving and caring to their owner, they can be quite judgemental of strangers, specially to those their owner doesn't recognize. This makes Ammonites' behavior to change into being more overprotective and intimidating.

3- Creation:

Ammonites are formed in deep oceanic trenches. While they can be cheaper to produce as they come from organic life, they take a longer time to form in comparison to other Gems, making them less reliable as a soldier and more of a commodity. Their shells need time to properly harden, or as a result, Undercooked Ammonites can come out. 

This results on smaller, weaker Ammonites who's shell couldn't harden. While these types of Ammonite can still be used as a bodyguard, they won't be able to properly use their abilities.

4- Abilities:

Ammonites possesses standard Gem abilities: bubbling, shapeshifting, fusion, regeneration, agelessness, gravity shifting, photokinesis, gem storage, and superhuman strength/durability.

4.1- Natural Skillset:

Immense Strength: Ammonites are extremely strong.

Immense Durability: Ammonites are incredibly durable Gems.

Immense Reflexes: Ammonites are gracefully elegant and able to execute acrobatic reflexes.

4.2- Unique Abilities:

Harden: Ammonites are able to harden their gemstone and create a layered shell-like armor around their body.

Self-Repair: Ammonites' gemstone is able to detect when they need to self repair itself and segregate calcium to solidify and harden its new shell.

5- Corrupted Ammonites

5.1- Corrupted

When corrupted, Ammonites take the form of a snail like beast. It has no eyes, a jagged mouth and it has three pairs of tentacles. Its body comes from its gemstone and the underside of its body seems to be of a paler shade, including the tentacles' palms.

5.2- Uncorrupted:

Ammonites that have been uncorrupted keep the paler underside where its corrupted form had it and a hardened shell-like hair.

Other Ammonite examples:

[hippielittlemetalhead]

Never Took The Time (To Forget) part 4.1 : With a Capital 'P'

Part 4.2 (Hey Dingus? Idk, the title for that one is up in the air.) will be up as soon as I have it somewhere I like (doing a different character's pov instead of Hop so it's giving me some trouble). Felt really bad that I hadn't updated in a while and this one was getting longer than I expected and I hadn't even gotten Robin really talking yet so... Happy Valentine's Day?

Part 1 (Hop Fucks Up), Part 2 (Pride and Prejudices: Joyce Edition), Part 3 (One of Us)

Family Video and the Arcade were two of the few businesses still operating after the inter-dimensional earthquakes that had tried tearing their town to pieces. Hop knew the kid who used to run the place for his uncle, Keith, had split town with his folks (said uncle in tow) leaving the store and arcade in the care of whatever employees had been willing to stay on payroll while the world fell apart.

He watches as Harrington's (more banged up than never remembers it being) car stops in front of the video store, parked parallel to the curb across at least 3 parking spots, as a wildly gesticulating Robin rolls herself out of the idling vehicle, jabbering loud enough that Hop can hear her voice from down the block. With most cars owned by the folks of Hawkins being commandeered by Owens' government goons to fill the gaps left by lost military vehicles it doesn't much matter but Hop can't help a bit of an eye roll at the kid's audacity.

But then again, he catches himself thinking, Steve was one of the only 'civilians' in-the-know and was well-known for carting around and protecting proven assets to the War Of The Worlds shitshow going on. So was there really an issue if the kid was one of the only cars on the road anyway and because he was even more read-in on the situation than even local law enforcement? If he was not only transporting and protecting people the government had a vested interest in but had proven himself more effective than even Hop and Joyce in wrangling the kids who had basically been saving the world for the last 4 years? If he kept them safe and out of harm's way in the thick of it but also kept them entertained and out from underfoot during the downtime?

Hell, the kid being one of the only employees left at some of the last businesses in town these brats would have any interest in almost guarantees the whole lot of them are continuously stocked in movies, snacks and quarters to distract them from even the most world shaking of calamities.

It hadn't occurred to him until just now what it meant for The Party that Steve and Robin seemed to be the only ones willing to hang around behind the counter at the arcade and sell and rent movies to shell-shocked townsfolk and tight-lipped government goons alike. Fuck, Lucas and Mike were right. He was an asshole.

He's pulled out of the slow spiral of realizing Mike Wheeler of all people had been right about something by Steve hollering one last "Love you, Bobby!" at a grinning and waving Buckley as she flung open the video store door and stumbled inside. He waits for the car and it's driver to round the corner before he gets out of his own government-issued station wagon. Fuck but he missed his truck.

"Welcome to Family Video, I literally just got here so you're gonna have to give me a minute before I can help you."

"I'm uh, I'm not here for a movie." He can tell she recognizes his voice (and it's a little impressive how quickly she clocks him since he's spoken only a couple words anywhere near her maybe twice in his memory. Girl has a good ear) from the way her entire body stills for a split second before whirling back into the hurricane of motion he's come to associate with her.

"Afraid we've only got movies round here, officer. You want any other medium of entertainment I'd suggest the arcade or the distribution yard." She's still not looking at him, hands busy shuffling papers and flipping open VHS cases. "Sorry, guess we'll have to catch up another time."

Hop sighs, running a hand over the short growth he's slowly getting used to again. He'd almost shaved it down again but El had been so happy when she'd realized they were growing out at about the same rate. He couldn't ever say no to her.

"Look, I know you don't like me. And it has been brought to my attention just how much I fucking earned that. But I- I need your help here, to fix it."

The flurry of movement doesn't stop but it's tighter, she's fiddling with something shoved up her shirt sleeve and tapping at the casing of a button connected to a wire leading into her green vest. Bright blue eyes are focused on him and he's almost reminded of the no-nonsense look Nancy Wheeler gets whenever they're faced with the world ending, but the girl in front of him is colder. He has no doubts that where Nancy Wheeler would tear down giants for what she believed is right, Robin Buckley would burn the world if it meant saving her people.

"Fine. He'll be back from his patrol-" He didn't remember assigning a patrol schedule and he's not sure if this is Steve's own initiative or if he's been roped into something by Owens' people. "in about twenty minutes. You have fifteen. Now why should I help you?"

The tag list below. Let me know if you want to be removed or if you go by a new/different tag you want on the list let me know which one I'm replacing and what I'm replacing it with please.

I've had some people ask to be tagged in this series who should already be in the list? If you see your name/tag but didn't get the notification that you were tagged please let me know so we can figure it out.

As always; like, comment and feel free to ask questions in the replies or my ask box.

@thelittleclare @jackiemonroe5512 @0body0disphoria0 @strangersteddierthings @lingeringmirth @dead-cherry-bitch @irethsune @ink777 @the-daydreamer-in-the-corner @ledleaf @pansexuality-activated @paintsplatteredandimperfect @kinryuuki @yikes-a-bee @altocumulustranslucidus @samsoble @sensationalsunburst @xxbottlecapx @y4r3luv @swimmingbirdrunningrock @flustratedcas @rootbeerandmusic @vinteraltus @wonderland-girl143-blog @failedstarsandgoldenclouds @steddie-as-they-go @youdrewstarsxaroundmyscars @i-amthepizzaman @croatoan-like-its-hot @maya-custodios-dionach @ineffable-monster-romancer @asquareinverona @iheartjennaaa @ellietheasexylibrarian

Tags that are not working on my end. Most of these Tumblr acts like they just don't exist and others I see accounts similar but 1 word, letter or number off. Please let me know if I put any of these down wrong!!

@anaibis @wormapothacary @lawrencebshoggoth @steveshairspray @samcoxramblings @rocochen20 @ohimamarigold @child-of-cthulhu

[sesshous]

pers: the ultimate wing“man” [freminet x reader]

summary: freminet makes a new friend (you!)

genre: fluff (gn)

a/n: reader isn’t from fontaine, also takes place after 4.2 archon quests (no direct spoilers to anything though),  this fic kicked my ass i started writing this on the NINTH. but i really wanted to get it done because i adore him ♡ (can also be read as platonic despite the title!)

when most people think of the self-proclaimed greatest magician in all of teyvat, lyney, they also thought of his magic assistant, lynette. when most people think of the magic assistant, lynette, they also thought of the once again self-proclaimed greatest magician in all of teyvat, lyney. when most people thought of freminet, they also thought of… diving? he was the most talented diver in all of fontaine, so it was no surprise that it was anyone’s first thought to connect him with the “only thing” he was actually good at (his words, not anyone else's). and for someone who spends more time underwater than on land and is probably in his own shell more than those armoured crabs you’ll find on the shore, it’s unlikely for him to be associated with other people.

there was one individual that some people didn’t consider..

pers.

how could they not think of him? okay, well pers wasn’t a human, but he was freminet’s most trustworthy companion! he practically brought him everywhere, including to his latest diving session. 

half an hour earlier, freminet had accidentally bumped into estelle, who had signalled him over and told him about how her ore supplier didn’t give her enough beryl conches for a project she was working on and requested him to get her some. originally, he had planned on going home since it was so late into the evening, but then he remembered talking with lyney and lynette about ‘wanting to socialise more’. he already finds it difficult to be around estelle with how much she talks, but he thinks that maybe this could be some kind of first step to becoming more comfortable with her. after agreeing to help her out, he set off to fontaine’s shoreline.

freminet was quick with gathering the beryl conches. after he collected enough, he went back to the surface to sort them out, examining them to make sure that they were in good condition. he did have to admit, diving while it was nearing night was pretty relaxing. it was just him, pers and the sea…

which is why he was now suddenly confused when he heard a sudden laugh. there shouldn’t have been nobody else around with how late it was. did he imagine it? he turned around to see where the laugh was coming from, he saw a figure crouched down with.. pers?

pers must have waddled off while he was so focused on the beryl conches... he swears his attention was only off him for a few seconds! freminet’s mind was at a blank here, but even he knows how rude it would look if he just walked up, snatched pers, came up with some excuse to leave and left, but he didn’t know who this person was- he was just concerned for pers safety! but while he was watching, he saw stranger pat pers lightly on the head and boop his beak with their finger, with the penguin flapping his mechanical wings in response. well, they seemed pretty gentle with how they interacted with pers. and he did remember talking to lyney and lynette about wanting to socialise more (that's why he was out diving so late after all), but normally they were both there with him to help guide him through conversations with people he didn’t know… but maybe this time, he could take this chance to try by himself?

quickly putting away the conches in his bag, he stood up, took a deep breath and nervously walked over to where they both were.

“um…” still anxious, he kept his gaze focused in on pers, however from the corner of his eye, he could see the stranger look up at him, with a smile.

“oh, hello! is this lil guy yours?”

“um,” clearing his throat, “hi. yes- yes, well he’s my friend…”

“really? what’s his name?” you moved you head a above pers in order to view his face, making direct eye contact with him. freminet felt his face heat up, quickly looking away.

“oh, it’s pers...”

“pers? that’s cute! i think it suits him.” moving back to your original position and taking pers’ flippers in your hands to lift them up and down slightly.

“thank you…” he glanced back over at you both (at pers, specifically), and stood silently as he watched the two of you play. 

“what were you doing out here?” you questioned.

“i was just diving for beryl conches…” he mumbled.

“beryl conches?!” you perk up. freminet flinched back a bit. he wasn’t expecting that much excitement for beryl conches of all things. “i saw them in the book i was reading about fontaine’s local specialties! they look pretty, i wanted to get one for myself, but i’ve never dived before…”

“oh… there’s someone who sells them in poisson… in the belleau region.”

“but it would be more special if i got one myself, you know?” freminet tilted his head and slightly nodded.

“yeah, i understand what you mean…” he murmured, silence following through. all he could hear now was the gentle tides against the shore and the squawking of some angler gulls. is this silence awkward for you? he feels like he needs to say something to keep the conversation going. you read a book about fontaine’s local specialties? you must be new to fontaine, did you move here? or are you just travelling- no, that’s definitely too personal... how about your favourite colour? or food? but those are boring, are they not? he could also ask you what you were doing out by the shore so late, but is asking the same question back okay? oh wait! your name-

“you mentioned that you were diving, right?” your voice snapped him back to reality, with you now standing up in front of him, holding out your hands with pers in them for him to take. “have you ever taught anyone how to dive?”

“i was diving, yes. and no, never. i don’t really think i would be the best teacher.” he looked down at your hands, reaching out and taking pers from them, face slightly blushing at your fingers making contact. it’s probably not too noticeable (he hopes). but now, he can ask for your name-

“how will you know if you never try?” you asked.

“well- well i guess you’re right, but i don’t know who would want me to-”

“wait, you can teach me! can be your first student?” your eyes lit up.

“i don’t… i don’t think… i…” he’s stuttering now. great, he made a fool of himself! (he didn’t)

“it’s okay if not!” you reassure him, putting up your hands. “i don’t want to pressure you or anything!” freminet shakes his head.

“oh, no- no, um maybe if i don’t have a lot of assignments tomorrow, i could show you the basics?” he clutches pers tighter to his chest.

“really? great!” you clap your hands lightly, “if you’re done collecting beryl couches, want to walk back together with me to the court of fontaine?”

“yes, i’ve finished. and sure, i don’t see why not…” okay! this time he’s really going to ask-

“that sounds awesome- wait!” you put out your hand to stop him. did he do something wrong?  “i forgot to ask you what your name is! i’m sorry!” laughing awkwardly, following up with your name. ah, you also forgot to ask, and your acting this nice towards him without knowing his name? …that puts him a little at ease.

“no worries, it’s freminet.” even he couldn’t help but give a small smile.

“freminet… i like it! you have a really pretty name.” okay his blush was most definitely noticeable now. 

“ah, thank you...” freminet grip on pers lessens.

“alright, let’s go. i’ll let you lead the way!” 

freminet thinks on the walk back, it should be a good time to ask you those questions he thought of earlier. and for once, he really hopes he doesn’t have a lot of diving requests tomorrow.

“wait, i never got the chance to ask you what you were doing out so late”

“i was exploring around fontaine!… and then i got lost exploring around fontaine… but i guess it’s good that i got lost since i got to meet you and pers, right?’

“...yeah, right.”

[lordhumeniak]

During 1994, London coachbuilder Vantagefield designed and built six Audi desert racers for a ruler of a Middle Eastern country.

Vantagefield got all six cars equipped with the latest and the greatest Audi 280bhp 4.2-litre V8 engine. Wide tires were fitted to chromed 16in alloy wheels made specially in Germany and squeezed under flared wheel arches. Completely new wings were made for the front, but at the rear the flares were blended into the existing panelwork. Those tires were too big for the factory spare wheel well, so each car was fitted with a custom-built exterior spare wheel housing. A full underbody bash-plate was fitted to shield the transmission, and the body shell was kitted out with protection bars all round and under the radiator. The client had also asked for special paint schemes and Vantagefield came up with three eye-catching metallics- burnt orange, green and purple, two cars in each color.

[eaglet-if]

Орлёнок (Eaglet) Battle System - Dev Diary #4

"Don't worry, the regular dev diary will publish this evening" she said, and vanished for 8 days.

Sorry.

Brain is being very difficult. At least I'm still somehow alive.

But onto actually interesting (I hope) things-

4.1 Initiative - cont'd

Examples for how Initiative works have already been given in the last Dev Diary (under 3.2), but I'd like to make a few additions. What makes Initiative go up or down? is a question as of yet unanswered and also ties into the main theme of this Dev Diary.

The main source of high Initiative are charges, meaning a melee attack on another unit. But that's not guaranteed to work - Terrain plays an important factor here, with difficult terrain such as towns/cities or, worse, a forest significantly reducing the effectiveness of a charge due to stuff being in the way, making it difficult to maintain momentum. Cavalry, which is generally best at charges, suffers the most from these.

Charging uphill is also not the best idea - you can guess why. But at least the opposite is also true: charging downhill is extra effective.

Then, there's charging across a river. Not a very good idea usually, so try to avoid it unless it's a really desperate situation. In real world terms, even shallow water that can be traversed without the need for barges etc. will significantly slow down your troops and, in the worst case, make them arrive on the other side in small groups. The enemy waiting there likes that.

And finally, there's the dynamic factor that is the hostile troops you're charging at. If they moved normally the turn before, it's fine, there's no special modifiers. But if they remained stationary, it's assumed they found some stuff to hide behind, dug some holes, maybe placed some pointy sticks or barbed wire, maybe even just laid down. In short, they'll be prepared. Which will give them a bonus to Initiative when charged. However - you can attack them with artillery beforehand, which will make them suppressed and lower their Initiative accordingly and effectively neutralize the preparation bonus.

4.2 Morale and Commitment

Morale is... exactly what it sounds like. It measures how happy your soldiers are to run around and shoot at their own countrymen.

It's decided by many factors - Divisions have a unified morale value at the beginning of the battle, which is influenced by things decided beforehand - previous victories and losses, relative strength (how strong the Division is compared to your other Divisions, and how strong your army is compared to the enemy army in this particular battle) and things happening in the story. It also changes during the flow of the battle - winning fights against enemy units is good, taking casualties is not so good. Some special weapons like flamethrowers or poison gas are also very much not good for the morale of the receiving side. And even if a unit is just standing in the back lobbing shells all over the place (looking at you, artillerists), its morale will suffer if your other units get slaughtered and it seems like the battle will be lost.

But what does morale actually do? Well, higher morale means better coordination rate. Conversely, a panicked and depressed unit will have a hard time coordinating. But that's just one half of it - to understand the other, we must first look at Commitment.

Commitment simply means how many of your units are actually taking part in fights, instead of just standing around on the field. It's a counter of how many units have fought in melee this turn (ranged attacks do not count; you'll see why in the next paragraph).

Now, if the enemy's overall morale (average value of all units combined, rounded down) hits 0, but commitment is also at 0 - meaning there are no enemy units currently tied up in melee - the enemy force will retreat in an orderly fashion, ending the battle without further casualties. If, however, morale is at 0 and commitment is not, the enemy will have to flee, which, narratively, means unengaged units will rush to save their still-fighting brethren, and as soon as they can run away as fast as they can. This means additional casualties for the fleeing side depending on how high their commitment was.

But the battle may also end when morale is low, though not yet zero - and that is if commitment is greater zero and the relative strength of the opposing force is at least 1.5:1 - in other words, if side A has 50% stronger forces than side B, and side B has both low morale and units tied up in melee, side B will capitulate. This is basically the most valuable outcome to reach, because you will get all the remaining enemies' stuff and a lot of prisoners - in normal conditions, only a small (or, in the case of the enemy fleeing, a medium-sized portion) of additional enemy casualties will become prisoners instead of casualties. This is important because prisoners become recruitable manpower over time.

That's it for today. Sorry again for the long wait.

The next Dev Diary will be the last one, and probably quite short - it deals with the meaning of Victory in battles.

[allwormdiet]

Shell 4.2

Yaaaaaaay more market time

This is a really fun scene actually. Lisa is being honest but not hurtful, which has to be a certain kind of cathartic for Taylor, even if she's still terrified of Lisa being a killer or, maybe worse, knowing she's planning to be a traitor.

I really really really wanna see Brian pop off and go crazy. I know him being boring is an effort on his part which means that at some point he's gonna slip up, and I am going to watch him like a fucking hawk until I see it happen

I've also had very similar conversations as Taylor and Lisa are having about clothes (I'm Taylor in this situation)

Lisa just like "man I wish I cared about my dad" lmao

Little fucked up display of power on Lisa's part. Taylor clearly feels like this is a violation of her privacy as the conversation goes on

Also I like how she's still providing input on the clothing in between all of this

Never fun to know for certain people are talking behind your back, and I'm sure Taylor's already sick to death of that shit, so it can't be great to know it's happening in her cape life too. Small comfort that it's because she seems interesting, if any.

I'm immensely curious why Taylor doesn't want the Undersiders involved in the bullies. Does she think they'd "realize" how much she sucks? Does she think that they'd leave a swath of blood and screams across Winslow High in their quest to avenge a comrade? Or is it that setting someone like Tattletale loose against her tormentors would be as bad or worse than the things she could do with her bugs?

I admire the strength that she holds this line on, even if I continue to fail at understanding it

This is funny, and kinda sweet. I wonder if it'll end up biting them in the ass, though. I feel like a lot of things are primed for ass-biting in this story so far

Fascinated that someone managed to get away with naming their business Fugly Bobs, what a coup

Honestly I get where Taylor's coming from, a bank robbery is such a wild introduction to crime, taking things easy would be nice

Is this Alec trying to bond? I think it might be, considering that Rachel's nickname for him is "runt"

Friends <3

Ahhhh yes, and now we get into this particular minefield, don't we

That'll be fun

Current Thoughts

Most chapters where it's hanging out with the Undersiders is going to include a part where I gush about how much I love the Undersiders. I would kill for these kids if they wouldn't all point and laugh at how terrible I am at killing, and they have a shitload more money than I do, so really I don't have anything to offer except my ongoing adoration and sympathies

I'd still pay good money to see Lisa destroy Emma and the crew though, there'd be a splash zone I'm sure of it

Anyway: powers next, can't wait

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 3.31

Holidays

American Lighthouse Day

American Map Day

Anesthesia Tech Day

Black Tot Day (Canada)

Bunsen Burner Day

Buy Some New Socks Day

César Chávez Day

Chemical Industry Workers’ Day (Turkmenistan)

Chucks and Pearls Day

Culture and Traditions Day (Micronesia)

Dance Marathon Day

Day Everyone Says “31” a Lot Day

Day of Chemical Industry Workers (Turkmenistan)

Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis (Azerbaijan)

Day of the Cuban Book (Cuba)

Easter Rising Anniversary Day (Ireland)

Eiffel Tower Day

Foucault’s Pendulum Day

Freedom Day (a.k.a. Jum il-Helsien; Malta)

Geologists Day (Russia)

Harmonnia Asteroid Day

Hot Guitar Day

Hug a Medievalist Day

International Cleavage Day

International Loki Day

International Transgender Day of Visibility

Just Because Day

King Nangklao Memorial Day (Thailand)

Marine Weapons Day

Micronesian Culture and Traditions Day (Micronesia)

National Aboriginal Language Day (Canada)

National Backup Day

National Border Control Day

National Crayola Crayon Day

National Farm Workers Day

National Indigenous Languages Day (Canada)

National Jefa Day

National Liberation Day

National Prom Day

National ‘She's Funny That Way’ Day

National Sleep Apnea Day

National Wear Your Ears Day

Nyepi Day (Day of Silence; Bali, Indonesia)

Pal-O-Ween (from “Kevin Can F**k Himself”) [Every 31st]

Rabbit Rabbit Day [Last Day of Every Month]

Semana Santa, Day 2 (until 4.1; Nicaragua)

She’s Funny That Way Day

Starbucks Day

Terri's Day

Thomas Mundy Peterson Day (New Jersey)

Trans Am Day

Trans Day of Vengeance (Canada)

Vigil to Mourn China’s Annexation of Tibet Day

World Backup Day

World Colorectal Center Prevention Day

World Lipodystrophy Day

World Theranostics Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Day of the Taco (Mexico)

I Drink Therefore I Am Day

National Après Day

National Baked Ham with Pineapple Day

National Clams on the Half Shell Day

National Cream Cheese Frosting Day

National Macaron Day

National Oysters on the Half Shell Day

National Tater Day

Oranges and Lemons Day [also 3rd Thursday]

Nature Celebrations

National Sunflower Day (Argentina)

Nigella Damascena Day (Dream Love; Korean Birth Flowers)

Periwinkle Day (French Republic)

Independence, Flag & Related Days

Montreal, Quebec incorporated (Canada; 1831)

Newfoundland and Labrador Province Day (Canada; 1949)

Transfer Day (U.S. Virgin Islands)

Varina (Declared; 2013) [unrecognized]

Varmol (Declared; 2020) [unrecognized]

5th & Last Monday in March

Meatless Monday [Last Monday of Each Month]

Meditation Monday [Every Monday]

Monday Musings [Every Monday]

Moody Monday [Last Monday of Each Month]

Motivation Monday [Every Monday]

Seward’s Day (Alaska) [Last Monday]

Weekly Holidays beginning March 31 (Last Week of March)

American Crossword Puzzle Week (thru 4.2)

City Restaurant Week (Wilmington, Delaware) [thru 4.5]

Festivals On or Beginning March 31, 2025

Bologna Children’s Book Fair (Bologna, Italy) [thru 4.3]

Electric Mountain Festival (Golden, Austria) [thru 4.4]

Food + Beverage Environmental Conference (Phoenix, Arizona) [thru 4.3]

Feast Days

Abdas of Susa (Christian; Saint)

Acacias (a.k.a. Achates), Bishop of Antioch (Christian; Saint)

Acathius of Melitene (Eastern Orthodox Church)

Aequinoctium Vernum, Day 5 (Pagan)

Anesius and companions (Christian; Saint)

Avicenna (Positivist; Saint)

Balbina (Christian; Saint)

Benjamin (Christian; Saint)

The Day Everyone Says “31” a Lot (Shamanism)

Earl (Muppetism)

Festival of Luna (Ancient Rome)

Festival of Luna, Goddess of the Moon (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Guy of Pomposa (a.k.a. Witen), Abbot at Ferrera (Christian; Saint)

John Dillinger Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

John Donne (Anglican Communion, Lutheran)

Sacred Drama Day (Ancient Babylonia)

Survived Another Month Day (Pastafarian)

Islamic Moveable Calendar Holidays

Eid al-Fitr (Islam; 1 Shawwal) (a.k.a. …

Aïd al Fitr (Morocco)

Aid-El-Fithr (Burundi, Ivory Coast, Tunisia)

Aïd el-Fitr (Gabon, Mauritania)

Aïd el Fitre (Djibouti)

Aïd el Segheir (Burkina Faso, Mauritania)

Djouldé Soumaé (Cameroon)

Eid

Eid Al-Fater (Eritrea)

Eid Al Fetir (Ethiopia)

Eid al Fitr (Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, Yemen)

Eid al-Fitr (Kosovo)

Eid-e-Fitr (Iran)

Eid’l Fitr (Philippines)

Eid-ul-Fiter (Bangladesh)

Eid-Ul-Fitr (Sierra Leone)

Eid ul-Fitr (Maldives)

Eidul Fitr (Pakistan)

Festival of Breaking the Fast

Hari Raya Aidil Fitri (Brunei)

Hari Raya Idul Fitri 1442 Hijriyah (Indonesia)

Hari Raya Puasa (Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, Malaysia, Singapore)

Idd el-Fitre (Uganda)

Iddi El Fitry (Tanzania)

Ide el Fitr (Comoros, Mayotte)

Id el Fitri (Nigeria)

idi Ramazon (Tajikistan)

Idulfitri (East timor)

Id-ul-Fitr (Parts of India)

Ied-Ul-Fitre (Suriname)

Iyd ul Fitr (Uzbekistan)

Korité (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo)

Kuthba-e-Ramzan (India)

Lesser Bajram (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina)

Lesser Eid

Ozara Baramy (Turkmenistan)

Orozo Ait (Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan)

Ramadan Bairam (Suda)

Ramazan (India)

Ramazan Bajram (Macedonia)

Ramazan Bayram (Azerbaijan, Cyprus)

Ramazan Bayramy (Turkey)

Ramazan Hayit (Uzbekistan)

Sugar Feast

Sweet Eid

Uraza-bairam (Kosovo)

Lunar Calendar Holidays

Chinese: Month 3 (Geng-Chen), Day 3 (Ji-Hai)

Day Pillar: Earth Pig

12-Day Officers/12 Gods: Success Day (成 Cheng) [Auspicious]

Holidays: None Known

Secular Saints Days

Herb Alpert (Music)

Johann Sebastian Bach (Music)

Robert Bunsen (Science)

Bonvi (Art)

Richard Chamberlain (Entertainment)

William Daniels (Entertainment)

Rene Descartes (Science)

Edward FitzGerald (Literature)

John Fowles (Literature)

Nikolai Gogol (Literature)

Franz Haydn (Music)

Gordie Howe (Sports)

William Morris Hunt (Art)

John Jakes (Literature)

Shirley Jones (Entertainment)

Audrey Kawasaki (Art)

John La Farge (Art)

Andrew Marvell (Literature)

Ewan McGregor (Entertainment)

Henry Morgan (Entertainment)

Jules Pascin (Art)

Octavio Paz (Literature)

Rhea Perlman (Entertainment)

Judith Rossner (Literature)

Christopher Walken (Entertainment)

Angus Young (Music)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Premieres

Attack of the Drones (WB Cartoon 2004)

Back to the Balkans (Mutt & Jeff Cartoon; 1918)

The Best Man, by Gore Vidal (Play; 1960)

Boomer Bill Goes to Sea (Powers Cartoon; 1917)

The Boss Baby (Animated Film; 2017)

Brick (Film; 2006)

Cock-A-Doodle Duel (WB Cartoon 2004)

Dare-Devil Droopy (Tex Avery Droopy MGM Cartoon; 1951)

Donald Duck and the Gorilla (Disney Cartoon; 1944)

Do You Know This Man? (Hearst-Vitagraph News Pictorial Cartoon; 1916)

Dr. No, by Ian Fleming (Novel; 1958) [James Bond #6]

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (Film; 2023)

The Egg Yegg (Columbia Favorites Cartoon; 1954)

Eiffel Tower (Paris Landmark; 1889)

Frankie and Johnny (Film; 1966)

Ghost in the Shell (Film; 2017)

The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams (Play; 1945)

Godzilla vs. Kong (Film; 2021)

Goldilocks (TV Special with DePatie-Freleng Animation; 1970)

The Happy Tots (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1939)

Hare and Loathing in Las Vegas (WB Cartoon 2004)

Heathers (Film; 1989)

Heaven Scent (WB MM Cartoon; 1956)

High Fidelity (Film; 2000)

Human Touch, by Bruce Springsteen (Album; 1992)

Hysterical High Spots in American History (Cartune Walter Lantz Cartoon; 1941)

Ice Age: The Meltdown (Animated Film; 2006)

Johnny B. Goode, by Little Richard (Song; 1958)

Ko-Ko’s Earth Control (Fleischer Inkwell Imps Cartoon; 1928)

The Labyrinth of Solitude, by Octavio Paz (Essay; 1950)

Little Twelvetoes (Multiplication Rock; Schoolhouse Rock; 1973)

Lucky Town, by Bruce Springsteen (Album; 1992)

Lulu Gets the Birdie (Little Lulu Cartoon; 1944)

M (Film; 1933)

The Matrix (Film; 1999)

Max Headroom (TV Series; 1987)

Miss Scarlet and The Duke (TV Series; 2020)

Motion Picture Production Code (Self-Censorship Code; 1930)

Mount Rushmore National Memorial (Authorized by Act of Congress; 1925)

Museum Scream (WB Cartoon 2004)

My Generation G-G-Gap (WB Cartoon 2004)

A New Method of Fighting Submarines (Pathe News; 1915)

Oklahoma! (Broadway Musical; 1943)

Peace Insurance (Hearst-Pathe News Cartoon; 1917)

Phrenology, by The Roots (Album; 2003)

The Pickwick Papers, Charles Dickens (Novel; 1836)

Please Don’t Eat the Daisies (Film; 1960)

Presence, by Led Zeppelin (Album; 1976)

Puzzled Pals (Tom & Jerry Van Beuren Cartoon; 1933)

Quackodile Tears (WB MM Cartoon; 1962)

Railroad Wretch (Scrappy Cartoon; 1932)

The Road to El Dorado (Animated Film; 2000)

Schoolhouse Rock! Earth (Cartoon Series; 2009)

Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut (Novel; 1969)

Snow-White (Betty Boop Cartoon; 1933)

So Does an Automobile (Betty Boop Cartoon; 1939)

Soldier Boy, by The Shirelles (Song; 1962)

Starbucks (Coffee Shop; 1971)

Tank Girl (Film; 1995)

Teacher’s Pest (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1950)

A Theory of Justice, by John Rawls (Novel; 1971)

10 Things I Hate About You (Film; 1999)

13 Reasons Why (TV Series; 2017)

Tramping Tramps (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1930)

Two Gophers from Texas (Blue Ribbon Hit Parade Cartoon; 1956)

The Underdog (Aesop’s Film Fable Cartoon; 1929)

Today’s Name Days

Benjamin, Cornelia (Austria)

Benjamin, Gvido, Natalija (Croatia)

Kvido (Czech Republic)

Balbina (Denmark)

Härmi, Hermi, Irma, Irmgard, Irmi (Estonia)

Irma, Irmeli (Finland)

Benjamin (France)

Ben, Conny, Cornelia, Nelly (Germany)

Ypatis (Greece)

Árpád (Hungary)

Beniamino (Italy)

Atvars, Detlavs, Gvido, Staldzis (Latvia)

Benjaminas, Gina, Ginas, Kornelija (Lithuania)

Vebjørn, Vegard (Norway)

Amos, Balbina, Beniamin, Dobromira, Gwidon, Kirył, Korneli, Kornelia (Poland)

Denia, Ipatie (Romania)

Maria (Russia)

Benjamín (Slovakia)

Amós, Benjamín (Spain)

Ester (Sweden)

Ames, Amos, Bambi, Thurston (USA)

Today’s National Name Days

National Ewan Day

National Franz Day

National Nikolai Day

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 90 of 2025; 275 days remaining in the year

ISO Week: Day 1 of Week 14 of 2025

Celtic Tree Calendar: Fearn (Alder) [Day 14 of 28]

Chinese: Month 3 (Geng-Chen), Day 3 (Ji-Hai)

Chinese Year of the: Snake 4723 (until February 17, 2026) [Ding-Chou]

Coptic: 22 Baramhat 1741

Druid Tree Calendar: Hazel (Mar 21-31) [Day 11 of 11]

Hebrew: 2 Nisan 5785

Islamic: 1 Shawwal 1446

Julian: 18 March 2025

Moon: 7%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 6 Archimedes (4th Month) [Avicenna]

Runic Half Month: Ehwaz (Horse) [Day 2 of 15] (thru 4.9)

Season: Spring (Day 11 of 92)

SUn Calendar: 1 Cyan; Oneday [1 of 30]

Week: Last Week of March

Zodiac:

Tropical (Typical) Zodiac: Aries (Day 11 of 30)

Sidereal Zodiac: Pisces (Day 17 of 30)

Schmidt Zodiac: Pisces (Day 11 of 26)

IAU Boundaries (Current) Zodiac: Pisces (Day 20 of 38)

IAU Boundaries (1977) Zodiac: Pisces (Day 20 of 38)

Calendar Changes

Cyan (J Calendar) [Month 4 of 12]

Shawwāl [شَوَّال] (Islamic Calendar) [Month 10 of 12] (Raised)

[rosenheimsystem]

[Kitsune to Bi]

[��と火] - この投稿は日本語です

This is an Ukagaka Freeshell!

Or really it's a Free Asset of a gal that's been Prepackaged for Convenient Use with Ukagaka purposes\~

Here are the terms from the Readme;

TERMS

1- Don't give my art to AI for any reason

2-Don't Steal/Claim as your own or Trace my art.

3- This art may be used for projects within the scope of Ukagaka freely, for Projects Outside Ukagaka you must obtain permission from the Original Creator.

4- You may Modify the art yourself so long as the Original Lineart remains Majorly unchanged.

4.1- This explicitly allows- Recolouring, ReShading/Rending, Resizing, Creating additive work ex.adding accessories or animal ears.

4.2- This Explicitly Disallows- Removal of Aspects of the image ex.Shortening the hair or removing the clothes.

5- You are free to Combine this Shell with other Shells So long as proper Credit remains intact.

5.1- Proper Credit is Putting my Name and a Link to the Shell download in your readme/credits

Thank you for Reading. you can download now UwU

Download as .7z File!

Download as .nar File!

[third--planet]

okay so about childe being a total dumbass and giving us his malfunctioning vision, i think the cracks and the apparent discoloration in his foul legacy transformation in the 4.2 trailer is due to his vision no longer being with him. as we know the delusions can erode away the person using them, we have seen this happen many times before and overusing the delusion without any vision has actually caused deaths.

When Childe used his Foul Legacy transformation to fight the traveler in the golden house, he had his vision with him, it could counter the delusions affects on the user. But from his character quest we get to know that he was still pretty badly injured after that fight.

now consider this, this dude used foul legacy in the courtroom once for a very short time after Neuvilette pronounced him guilty. at that time he did not have the vision, he obv had done at least some damage to himself during that short time. then again we know he fought in the fortress of meropide in the pankration ring, again using his delusion heavily, more damage to his body.

in the trailer, he is not wearing his vision while in foul legacy transformation. boom, the damage he is taking is astronomical. I'm so done with his ginger ass i swear. now i can only think up two possible outcome of him fighting mr. whale; Childe dies, or he is saved just in time by either traveler or skirk.

there's obv some debates about whether it is childe in the Legacy or some one else entirely or if that is just a shell of the Legacy and no one is actually in there. I've also seen theories of childe being in mr. whale? which- 👀, aight, but we can't throw away the possibility tho. not when the sky literally has childe's constellation above mr. whale.

I have a few theories about what the whale(im sorry ik it's a narwhal) is but they are very mixed and jumbled in my brain rn, somlet's see what conclusion i can arrive to regarding mr. whale.

[avnasace]

Some interesting quotes i found while researching genshin lore- plus my thoughts

( spoilers for genshin 4.2 act V (5) of the archon quest )

Byakuyakoku Collection-

'When the eternal throne of the heavens came, the world was made anew. Then the true lord, the Primordial One, came forth and did battle against the seven terrifying sovereigns, dragon-lords of the old world.'

'The Primordial One may have been Phanes. It had wings and a crown, and was birthed from an egg, androgynous in nature. But for the world to be created, the egg's shell had to be broken. However, Phanes, the Primordial One, used the eggshell to seperate the "universe" and the "microcosm of the world.'

( Rhinedottir was described with both female and male prounouns in the latest archon quest, plus they created many very powerful abyssal beasts: Durin, Elynas, Rifthounds, etc.

also the Narwhal which was much stronger than Neuvillette until he gained his power back, which means they were far stronger than the archons in general which makes me think Rhinedottir = a shade, because from what im getting from Byakuyakoku, Istaroth isnt aligned with Celestia anymore?? because they helped Enkanomiya which was felled by Celestia right?? so not out of possibility for Rhinedottir to also be a similar situation but also possibly Rhine= The Sinner.

i first thought Rhinedottir= Phanes because of the androgynous comment and the use of multiple prounouns for Rhine but rereading the lore makes me think otherwise. )

'a vishap who tranforms into a person to attend a ball, then breaks one of its legs and eventually ends up walking with a cane'

this one just made me think of both the little mermaid and neuvillette so i added it lmao

'according to a prophecy of old, the dragon of water, the ancient lord of vishaps, will definetly descend in the form of a human.'

we were theorising this for aaages and now we know its neuvillette (rip kokomi)

i do find it interesting that this prophecy must have been recorded like between 7000 and 3000 years ago, yet neuvillette was only born 500 years ago, not long after Egeria died and Focalors split her divinity from Furina and placed herself in the oratrice

'dragonheirs of the depths have evolved to wield the power of other elements and have hence lost their purity. as such, the dragon of water will no longer be born from among their ranks.'

again just a neuvillette adjacent quote lmao boi do i love dragons djfksksos

'two special astronomical phenomena of Byakuyakoku- the mirages and the sinshades- were at first indiscriminately referred to as Eidolons and seen as the two sides of the same coin.'

now this one reminded me of the Hydro Eidolons and also the Mirages from the Sumeru desert

i love genshins lore, my adhd brain cannot keep up with, or organise these thoughts coherently enough lmao but i felt like compiling them anyway dkdkssdw

[mariacallous]

The U.S. Congress has delayed supplemental assistance to Ukraine for seven months, and the lack of urgency is resulting in dire new realities on the battlefield. With Ukrainian forces fortifying the front line ahead of a new Russian offensive expected in the spring or early summer, a failure to swiftly resupply Ukraine’s troops with ammunition could result in Russia’s greatest gains since the early days of the full-scale invasion.

Policymakers in Washington have mostly accepted that Congress won’t pass a bill that includes new aid to Ukraine until April at best, once another budget deadline is addressed. This timeline is entirely the choice of U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has repeatedly given new excuses for dithering on bringing an aid package—which has already passed the Senate—to a vote. The delay has in no small part contributed to Russia gaining the advantage on the battlefield. If Ukraine is to stop Russia from making significant gains in this coming offensive, it urgently needs fresh military assistance.

Because the United States stopped delivering new aid to Ukraine last December and Kyiv’s European partners have also struggled to provide sufficient military assistance, Russia now fires more than five artillery shells for every one that is fired by Ukraine, an advantage that continues to grow. Ukraine’s air defenses intercepted just two-thirds of Russian missiles and drones during a recent attack, reflecting declining effectiveness. Ukrainian deaths resulting from ammunition and air defense shortages are getting worse every day.

Although some policymakers regard the conflict as frozen, Russia wants to get on the move and resume its conquest of Ukraine—and it may make that happen. Moscow’s initial invasion in February 2022 was stymied by poor preparation and Ukrainian determination, but its troops have learned valuable lessons and are not the same fighting force as two years ago. Russia withstood Ukraine’s 2023 counteroffensive and has worked to set the conditions for a potential breakthrough this year.

While Ukrainian forces are fortifying their positions and otherwise readying themselves for an offensive, they have now spent months with limited ammunition and military support. They have not prepared to the same extent that Russia had for Ukraine’s counteroffensive last year. Recent operations, especially in the city of Avdiivka, have reportedly drained Russia’s supply of armored vehicles and could limit Moscow’s ability to move quickly and capture territory if its forces break through Ukrainian lines. Still, without fresh aid, and especially ammunition, battlefield conditions are likely to favor Russia.

Although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky won’t come out and say it for fear of jeopardizing U.S. aid, many Ukrainians are concerned the United States is turning its back on them. Officials in Kyiv worry that without significant increases in ammunition supplies, Russia will make significant gains by the summer. Their best hope is to hold the line as long as possible while U.S. lawmakers finish deliberating whether to resume helping. Russian President Vladimir Putin isn’t waiting for Washington’s timeline.

Ukraine needs immediate assistance to resupply and prepare for coming Russian offensives. The best way to prevent Moscow from making meaningful gains in the months ahead is for the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the $61 billion supplemental aid package, or something similar. This would not only help Ukraine, but it would also inject tens of billions of dollars into revitalizing the U.S. defense industrial base, creating new jobs, and enhancing U.S. security. The next best options are for the White House to tap further into the $4.2 billion in Presidential Drawdown Authority-accessible funds it has in reserve in case supplemental aid fails altogether.

In Europe, the Czech Republic-proposed plan to source 800,000 artillery shells from the global market is expected to move forward, with ammunition being delivered to Ukraine in the “foreseeable future,” according to Ukraine’s foreign minister. (France recently removed its objection to using EU funds to purchase non-European arms.) This will be another important asset for Ukraine’s defense this year. But Ukrainian officials are requesting up to 250,000 artillery shells per month, meaning that this latest infusion of shells may only resupply Ukraine’s forces for three months without serious rationing.

The next few months will be critical to Ukraine’s defense, and its partners need to get serious about long-term support that can help Kyiv set the conditions for victory and start working to match Moscow’s expanding arsenal. While the U.S. House is deliberating, Russia is rearming. It has received more than 3 million artillery shells from North Korea, more than 400 ballistic missiles from Iran, and built factories to churn out its own kamikaze drones. It is also on track to produce millions of its own artillery shells per year.

Russia has shifted to a wartime economy. The conflict has spurred massive demand for military goods within the country. The exodus of nearly 1 million Russians since the full-scale invasion has led to a labor shortage, causing wages to rise and unemployment to fall. The Kremlin is spending 30 percent of its budget on the military, injecting significant money into the economy to keep things afloat. Russia is betting that it will make significant gains on the battlefield before it succumbs to hyperinflation and unsustainable spending. This week, Putin said it would be “ridiculous” to consider peace talks when Ukraine has an ammunition deficit and the prospect of a Russian breakthrough is on the horizon.

Amid other global developments, the United States has not been able to fully meet Ukraine’s needs. After the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks against Israel, the United States diverted artillery shells intended for Ukraine to Israel because there weren’t enough to adequately supply both countries at the same time. Washington is working to revitalize its own defense industrial base; should the supplemental aid bill pass the House, it will fuel new investments into restarting important production lines. Even then, the U.S. goal is to produce up to 100,000 artillery shells per month by the end of 2025—significantly below the 250,000 per month already produced by Russia.

Eastern European leaders such as Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis have long advocated for a “whatever victory takes” approach, and their governments deliver aid to Ukraine commensurate with that vision. More European leaders are catching up, recognizing the need to dramatically boost their own defense production. The EU’s top defense production official announced that the bloc now has the capacity to produce 1 million artillery shells per year, but Europe has delivered only one-third of the 1 million shells it promised to Ukraine by this spring.

The EU’s new Defense Industrial Strategy, the first of its kind, is a promising roadmap to revitalizing Europe’s production capacities, including a pledge to include Ukraine in joint procurement and an endorsement of using frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine militarily. With increasing fears that the United States could step back from Ukraine—especially if former U.S. President Donald Trump wins the U.S. presidential election in November—European leaders are gaining a stark understanding of the urgent need to revamp their defense production.

By delaying aid for months and giving Russia time to fortify the territory it occupies, Western partners did not set Ukraine up for success with last year’s counteroffensive. Ukraine needs a new strategic vision as it refreshes military leadership and digs in to resist the coming Russian offensive. This should be a year for Ukraine to survive, reconstitute, and set the conditions for a successful breakthrough of Russian lines in 2025. But that can only happen if Kyiv receives the aid it so urgently needs. If Russian forces exploit the West’s failure to resupply Ukrainian forces, Russian forces may soon be back on the march, reconquering cities liberated by Ukraine in 2022.

Ukrainian troops have shown that they can win when they have the tools to do so. But if Ukraine is kept on a starvation diet as support falters in the West, Russian forces may soon see their best gains in the conflict since 2022. Ukraine’s victory is in the strategic and moral interests of the United States and Europe, and it’s time for policymakers to treat it that way.

[katyawriteswhump]

the freak in the penthouse part 9

E-rated (for sexual content), accidental millionaire eddie/sex-worker steve. Sorry I haven't updated this here in forever...

On tumblr: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3.1 Part 3.2 Part 4.1 Part 4.2 Part 5.1 Part 5.2 Part 6.1 Part 6.2 Part 7 Part 8 or search #thefreakinthepenthouse :)

On AO3

Preview: “Stevie?” spluttered Eddie, mildly winded.  “Eddie-babes!” Steve hung with his arms looped around Eddie’s neck. He was in full-on hooker mode—hot-pants, mesh vest, eyeliner wonky, and mascara everywhere. There was a faint pinkish bruise across his left cheekbone, and his breath reeked of booze. “What the heck happened?” asked Eddie. “Nothing bad… good… whatever. Oh man! You’re really bailing on me, huh?” Peeping over Eddie’s shoulder, Steve had noticed the packed cases and bulging garbage sacks. His dopey lopsided smirk was ridiculously cute, though it didn’t reach his glazed eyes. “Okay. One for the road. Fuck meeeeeeee.”

....

Chapter 9: promotion (trigger warnings for past abuse, trauma.)

“You shifty punk-ass son-of-a-bitch.” Kline blocked Steve’s path along the narrow backstairs corridor. “I knew you were playing me.”

Steve queued his answer behind a yawn. “Yeah, my breakfast shift was a bust. I’m sorry, and yeah, you’re not gonna pay me for today, but… Jesus, I wasn’t playing hooky for no reason. You wanted me to puke all over the waffles?”

Steve had, in fact, been slinking off somewhere quiet to get over the general yuck of being unwell. He should’ve tried harder to avoid Kline. He was simply too through with it all to think that far ahead, let alone conjure any ninja skills.

It grew obvious Kline wasn’t gonna let him pass without a shoving match.

“You want something else?” 

“Let me think,” drawled Kline. “That’ll be a big fat YES.” Steve couldn’t stopper his groan. Godchester had wasted little time putting his ‘order’ in. “A word in your shell-like ear?”

“Say wha—"

Kline grabbed Steve’s arm. Steve was still so shaky that he let himself be dragged into a walk-in cleaner’s closet. Kline kicked the door shut, releasing Steve with a shove.

“You dirty little hustler.” Kline switched on a buzzing strip-light. “One call to the police precinct and I can have your ass tossed in jail.”

Yeah, it’s always the ass. I guess the rest of me goes straight in the dumpster.

“So, I’m fired?” Steve balled his fists. His limbs felt as liquidy as a Robin Buckley fondue disaster, but if this douchebag was gonna try something… “Say it! I’m fired, right?”

“Hell, no. You keep your lousy job—I mean, who are we trying to fool here? You’re the most popular bellhop we ever had. Let’s call this a promotion, Casanova.” Kline beamed, flicked his dumb floppy fringe. “You got a date tonight. 8pm. I’ll confirm the room number later.”

“Oh.” The dull inevitability of it all trickled through Steve. He addressed a mop. “How much you getting for me?”

“That’s for me to know, and you to peddle your sweet butt for.”

Steve forced his chin up and glared with everything he’d got left. He knew roughly what he’d been ‘worth’—up to five hundred dollars a night. Perhaps more. Kline would’ve demanded top whack out of Godchester.

“If it’s a promotion, don’t I get a pay-rise? A cut?”

“Hah! Not likely. I know you’ve been whoring for that freak in the penthouse.” He jabbed Steve’s chest with his forefinger. “You owe me a cut, son.”

“Or what? Jesus, I… I…” Steve swatted Kline’s hand away, his glare fading and his panic ratcheting up. Kline was breaking the law, too, pimping Steve out like this. He broke the law regularly, sending Deirdre’s girls up on room service. Still, it would be Steve’s word again his, and Steve’s voice would be as lost as a fart in a tornado…

…but this wasn’t Eddie that he was expected to spread his legs for. It wasn’t even some unknown John.

It was Godchester.

Steve swallowed fresh bile. “Go to hell. I’m not doing it.”

“You playing hardball, Harrington? I mean, it’s a cute look, but–”

“I said NO.” Kline grinned harder than ever, teeth gleaming yellow. Then he struck Steve. “Ow! Jesus!”

It’d been a wet-fish slap, but it stung, and the shock of it set Steve reeling. Kline grabbed him by the collar, slammed him back against the shelves. If he hadn’t felt so goddamn peaky, Steve would’ve handed the slick sucker his ass. Today, Steve’s dizziness alone started robbing him of his breath.

Oh God, oh God.

“See my aforesaid statement about throwing your ass in jail.” Kline’s breath stank of Irish coffee and something really gross. “Pretty boy like you—that’s gonna be a jolly few months. Oh, and I don’t think the sob stories about your wretched asthma are gonna wash there. Like with me, they just won’t care.” 

Steve curled his lip. ONE TIME he’d shown this lowlife his inhaler, claiming he’d lost it, and only to cover for why he was really outside Eddie’s suite. Other than that, he’d never spun Kline, or anybody, a sob story.

“That sicko Brit wants you in uniform,” Kline was saying. “Fancies you as some poncy, overgrown schoolboy. Oh, and…”

He whipped out a pair of handcuffs and dangled them so close that Steve’s eyes crossed. They sure weren’t the furry ‘fun’ kind. In fact, they resembled proper police ones. The sort that bruised when you struggled.

Like I didn’t already know how tonight was gonna go down.

“One of Deirdre’s girls left them.” Kline hooked them in Steve’s pocket. “Gotta get one of the receptionists to source a wicker cane for your hot date, too. Lordy, the things I do in the line of duty.”

He released Steve’s shirt and was gone.

Steve bumped down the shelves onto his haunches. The strip-light hummed through his veins, and it felt like something sharp caught in his throat. His brain refused to have a coherent thought, let alone make any kind of decision. Eventually, he thudded the side of his fist to his thigh. The cuffs fell out of his pocket with a clatter, as did his inhaler.

He stared down at them both.

Eddie. He’d planned to go and see Eddie. What if Eddie was really through with him? 

God, I can’t… I won’t… I can’t think about it right now. But I can’t go to jail. I can’t… I won’t… I can’t.

He used his inhaler, pocketed it with the handcuffs. Feeling calmer, he slowly got up and brushed his crumpled uniform down. Then he went back to the restroom to rinse the chalky taste of his overused meds from his mouth.

After that, he kept doing… stuff. He simply couldn’t keep his scattered mind on what any of it was.

…

Eddie paced around the penthouse, pep-talking himself to the verge of frenzy. “You can do this. C’mon, Munson. Grow a pair already.”

1pm passed. 2pm passed.

He had to be out by 4 o’clock. Another guest wanted to check in that evening. At this point, he was randomly dumping his stuff into garbage sacks. There was no way he was fitting all his hoarded crap into his sticker-covered suitcases.

He wasted twenty minutes searching for Jimi Hendrix’s probably-fake guitar case, which he randomly located beneath the baby grand. Then he sat down on the stool. He dumped his arms then his face onto the keys with a truly un-metal plink.

Joke was, he really did hate this dump. 

Everything he’d said to Steve about it was true—it stood for all the ex-frat-boy-corporate-forced-conformity he despised. Henderson was sending a ride over to whisk him straight to the apartment he shared with Suzie in Pasadena. Eddie wanted out.

He still had no clue how he was gonna get to that ride.

It involved walking through a busy hotel lobby, trying not to go completely cuckoo, stepping into the street, and…

…oh God, Steve! He owed Steve at least six-hundred dollars, and he’d no longer gotten a dime to his name. Steve needed that cash for meds. To goddamn live. Eddie got that. For that reason alone, he would’ve forgiven Steve even if he had faked everything between them.

Yet, deep down, he honestly couldn’t accept that Steve didn’t feel… Heck, at least some the goddamn feels which were currently gouging Eddie’s heart out with a spoon. The thought of everything ending in such a car-wreck fashion, let alone of never seeing Steve again?

It hurt so bad that a keening sound leaked from Eddie’s clenched teeth.

He had to find him.

Eddie sniffled, de-hunched his back, and then his jaw dropped . On top of the piano, he spied some rolling papers and some Gamja.

“Obi-waccy-baccy kenobi,” he said to the plastic pouch, “yoooooou are my only hope.”

He’d gotten the reefer between his lips and the lighter poised in his hands, when he hesitated. Memories gushed back of Steve sitting at the piano, serenading him:

“I don't have much money, but boy if I did

I'd buy a big house where we both could live—"

Oh, the kickass irony. Eddie might’ve pulled that one off, before he’d pissed his fortune away. And Steve had been a goddamn revolution for Eddie. When he arrived, Eddie couldn’t even listen to music he loved without ripping his hair out. Last night, thanks to Steve, Eddie had teetered on the brink of packing his trunks and leaving this dump on his own terms. It’d been Steve who’d been triggered by that Queen song, something to do with his parents, and then…

Eddie placed his joint down on his lap.

Okay, Munson. Showtime. Do what you were gonna do before Henderson blasted you with a double six. You blaze out into that hotel, clear-headed, and you find him. No need to be a hero. Baby steps. Just tell him… tell him…

Tell him what exactly?

Eddie heard a distant banging. In an adjoining part of the suite, somebody thudded on the main doors.

Eddie jumped up. His joint unravelled and his weed scattered everywhere. While he’d resolved not to smoke the damn thing, he sobbed a little. Plus, it was still only 2.23 pm, and surely hotels this snazzy didn’t send bailiffs? Besides, Dustin had settled the bill.

The bashing got louder. “Eddieeeee!”

Steve!

Eddie’s every trouble—even his terror of the big bad world—was briefly forgotten. He sprinted to the doors, yanked them wide. Steve’s fist was raised for another thump, and he tumbled forward into Eddie with a thud.

“Stevie?” spluttered Eddie, mildly winded. 

“Eddie-babes!” Steve hung with his arms looped around Eddie’s neck. He was in full-on hooker mode—hot-pants, mesh vest, eyeliner wonky, and mascara everywhere. There was a faint pinkish bruise across his left cheekbone, and his breath reeked of booze.

“What the heck happened?” asked Eddie.

“Nothing bad… good… whatever. Oh man! You’re really bailing on me, huh?” Peeping over Eddie’s shoulder, Steve had noticed the packed cases and bulging garbage sacks. His dopey lopsided smirk was ridiculously cute, though it didn’t reach his glazed eyes. “Okay. One for the road. Fuck meeeeeeee.”

“Tempting. Let’s put that on a backburner.” Eddie awkwardly manoeuvred Steve farther into the suite, grunting at the effort. Steve giggled. “I wanna grovel a bit, honey.”

“What the fuuuuuck for?” Steve unwound himself from Eddie, flinging his arms about dramatically. “I lied to you, Eddie, and I’m NOT SORRY. I’m a bad, baaaaaad boy.” He pirouetted about then crashed to his bare knees, landing among Eddie’s sketches. Which Eddie had still not tidied away. Fortunately, the chambermaid had picked up the broken pieces of vase—doubtless, it had been added to Dustin’s list of charges.

“Hey, this is new.” Steve picked up one of Eddie’s flesh-eating plant monsters. “Blood and violence? You dig that, huh? You wanna punish me? Bring it on, oh Skeletor Dungeon Lord!”

“Oh God! Yesterday, I was being an idiot, okay? You know I’m not into nasty shit.” Eddie offered Steve a hand to help him up. Steve ignored it and levered himself up unsteadily.  “Look, it was a crit hit when I found you in the restroom like that, a lot to take in. I don’t want us to take a break. I still wanna help you, if you’ll let me, but I gotta ’fess up—”

“Oh, that’s how it is, is it?” announced Steve. He didn’t seem to have listened to a word of Eddie’s attempts to make nice. He had, however, spied an overturned trash can. And the half-dozen scrunched-up approximations of himself, one of which he now grabbed and pitched furiously across the room. “You’re throwing me away? Screw you. SCREW YOU!”

“Honestly. I’m not. It was a shitty likeness, that’s all, and… Christ, you’re totally wasted. Please calm down. Please?”

As Eddie tented his hands in prayer, Steve hurled another curveball. He looped his arms around the fake marble pillar and cuffed his wrists together with what looked like true-blue police-issue handcuffs.

“Gimme your worst!” screamed Steve. “Blood and violence, huh? I can take it. Hurt me, big boy, come on. Fuck me raw. Hurt me… hurt me… hurt me.”

“Stevie, I—” Very gently, he placed his hand on Steve’s shoulder. Steve twitched him off then started whispering again:

“Don’t… D-don’t touch me… Don’t. Go away… go away. Please… please… please.”

“I will never hurt you. I promise.” Eddie hurried around the pillar. Steve stared straight through him like he wasn’t there, his breaths shuddering unevenly. Eddie didn’t think he was having an asthma attack. It seemed more like some kind of panic attack. Jesus, Eddie knew about those, though right now, he was dead set on keeping his head together. He still had no clue what to do. He couldn’t even comfort Steve through fear of triggering something worse.

“Uuuuuh, where’s the keys to the handcuffs?”

No response. Not a flicker.

“Steve? Just to be super-safe. Where’s your inhaler?” Tears trickled from Steve’s unseeing eyes. The last remaining color syphoned from his cheeks. Eddie clawed his hair: “Inhaler, Steve. Did you bring it? Do you need it?”

Steve’s knees buckled and he slithered floorward, still loosely hugging the pillar.

“Holy shit! Okay, try and look at me. Steve?” Eddie crouched in front of Steve, waved his hand near Steve’s nose. “I don’t like this, Stevie. Do you need a doctor? I’ll pay, you don’t need to worry about a thing, okay? I’ll take care of everything.”

I’ll pay with the strips Henderson’s gonna tear off my ass.

When somebody else knocked loudly on the doors, Eddie jumped to his feet. Steve didn’t blink.

“Steve? STEVE!” yelled a female voice from outside. Then, “Let me in, you loaded bastard! I got a rolling pin here, and I swear to God—I’m gonna batter this door in and your face is gonna be next.”

...

Part 10 on tumblr

Part 10 on AO3 (tumblr link coming soon)

Thank you for reading. Likes, reblogs and comments much appreciated and will feed the bunnies🐰💕🐰💕🐰💕🐰💕

On tumblr: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3.1 Part 3.2 Part 4.1 Part 4.2 Part 5.1 Part 5.2 Part 6.1 Part 6.2 Part 7 or search #thefreakinthepenthouse :)

On AO3 All my ST stuff on AO3